Vietnam wants to increase cooperation with Israel, especially in the areas of the latter’s strength such as science, technology, investment, trade, labour, and tourism.

President Truong Tan Sang affirmed this during the November 25 talks with visiting Israeli President Shimon Peres in Hanoi.

Mr. Sang welcomed his Israeli counterpart, accompanied by 60 businesses, and expressed his pleasure with the fine development of bilateral cooperation, particularly in science and technology, economics, and trade.

The State leader briefed his guest on Vietnam’s achievements during its Renewal process and reaffirmed Vietnam’s foreign policy of becoming a friend and reliable partner of the international community for peace, independence, and development.

Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations with West Asian countries, including Israel, said Mr Sang.

He voiced Vietnam’s support for international efforts to peacefully settle conflicts, including one between Israel and Palestine, on the basis of international law for the benefit of concerned parties.
For his part, Mr. Peres said he was pleased to pay the official visit to Vietnam, the first one made by an Israeli leader since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1993. He said the visit aims to accelerate the multi-faceted cooperation between the Israel and Vietnam.

He expressed his admiration for late President Ho Chi Minh as well as Vietnam’s success during its past struggle for national independence as well as the current process of national construction and development.

The Israeli leader said he hopes Vietnam will achieve greater successes in implementing socio-economic development goals to build a prosperous nation, with an increased role in the international arena.

Both leaders expressed their delight at the development of bilateral relations thus far, and reaffirmed their determination to strengthen ties in the future.

Vietnam-Israel two-way trade reached US$220 million in 2010, a 34 percent increase from 2008. This year, Israel pledged to provide supplementary credits worth US$100 million for Vietnam. The two countries are effectively implementing numerous cooperation projects in agriculture and technology in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Nghe An, and Lam Dong.

Israel also granted apprenticeship scholarships to Vietnamese scientific and technological officials.

On the occasion, Mr. Peres invited his host to visit Israel and the Vietnamese State leader accepted the invitation with pleasure.

** At a press briefing held shortly after the talks, Presidents Sang confirmed that Mr. Peres’ visit will provide fresh impetus for further bilateral cooperation.

“We agreed to maintain political cooperation between Vietnam and Israel by promoting exchange of delegations and implementing agreements signed by both countries,” he said.

He thanked Israeli authorities for creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals working and living in the country.

** On the same day, the two Presidents witnessed the signing of a maritime transport agreement and supplementary document to the Vietnam-Israel financial cooperation protocol.

PM Dung lauds Peres’ visit to Vietnam

The official visit made by Israeli President Shimon Peres will be a new milestone in the Vietnam-Israel relationship, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Mr Dung emphasized this while receiving Mr Peres in Hanoi on November 23. He said Vietnam attaches great importance to strengthening ties with the Middle Eastern country.

The PM expressed hope that the two governments will work closely together to implement cooperation projects which have been recently signed. He also said he hopes both sides will soon establish a joint committee for trade, economic, scientific, and technological cooperation.
 
Vietnam wants Israel’s support in developing science and technology for agriculture and in creating favourable conditions for businesses to expand investment cooperation, he said.

For his part, Mr Peres said his official visit to Vietnam aims to further develop the friendly relationship between the two countries. He also pledged to cooperate with Vietnam in agriculture, which is considered its strength, and in other potential areas.

**On the same day, Mr Peres met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who expressed his belief that the visit will help enhance Vietnam-Israel ties for mutual benefit.

Both leaders also briefed each other on their respective countries’ socio-economic conditions.

VOV